Open Writing

"Jake" Wilson was Headmaster during my first two years at Stanhope. He was a small extrovert man who always wore a brown suit and seemed to transmit enthusiasm wherever he went. He used to take charge of the morning assembly that was held on three mornings a week.

After the school hymn of 'Who would true valour see, let them come hither', there would be a Bible reading and a prayer. Mr Wilson would then take a theme and preach for the need of good attendance, punctuality, discipline and for maintaining the corporate spirit of the school.

He was a very keen sportsman and used the school assembly on Fridays to encourage the football team to success with their Saturday game. He then used the Monday assembly to comment on their performance. Every time the school had an important game Mr Wilson would encourage everyone to be there 'to support your school'. I believe most teachers attended in fear of their jobs!

I recall one incident in 1947 after South Shields A.F.C. used the school's Cleadon Recreation Ground for a home F.A. Cup-tie. Their pitch at Horsley Hill was too small for the competition and the club was trying to relocate. After the game, a rumour went round the town, that the club was interested in buying the school's ground and developing it into a new stadium.

This was like a 'red flag to a bull' to our community-conscious headmaster. He was absolutely furious. At a special school assembly, he spoke about the danger of professionals taking over amateur facilities and implored us to ask our parents to protest by writing to the Gazette, local councillors and our M.P.

I don't know if it had any effect, but South Shields went on to develop a new stadium at Simonside Hall, not Cleadon Recreation Ground!

Mr Wilson loved to be in the classroom. He would think nothing of walking into a class in progress, usually the 'A' forms, and sitting at the back before finding an appropriate moment to interject and take over the lesson.

He took great pleasure in teaching English Literature and Language and introducing us to renowned writers of whom we were unaware. His favourite piece of literature was Pilgrim's Progress. At the same time he criticised lazy and incorrect use of the English language.

He quoted one instance when he was walking up to school, hearing one pupil shout to another, 'haway man' and got the reply, 'am is'. Another story he told was about a pupil eating an apple in the school yard and being followed by a crowd of classmates yelling, 'Gis yer gowk, gis yer gowk.' Yet again, he taught us how to say 'amateurs' correctly, causing a laugh when he said, "They are not 'hammer-chewers'"

Mr Wilson also used to question the class about what job they intended to do after leaving school. The next question was always, "What job does your father do?" It was still the age when a lot of sons followed their father's career. A common reply seemed to breed confidence in his eyes.

The head must have had a good memory because he knew my family circumstances, and I believe he deliberately avoided asking me any questions about my father's job. Other teachers did not, and I often had to lie to avoid embarrassment. The expression, 'single parent' was unknown in the nineteen forties. Apart from the many war widows, families without a father were very rare and often frowned upon. Mr Wilson helped me keep my secret.

Our headmaster expected a norm of full attendance, punctuality and good behaviour from everyone. Anyone falling short of these standards was punished. Sixty years later I read of schools giving pupils awards and introducing prizes to produce what was expected from us as normal behaviour.

During the late nineteen forties, there were many critics of the eleven-plus examination the principle one being that it did not allow for late developers. Therefore in 1948 Mr Wilson was delighted when he found out that the local education authority was conducting a limited 13-plus examination for possible late admission to the High School. The top six pupils in the 'A' form of all secondary Schools in the town were invited to attempt this examination.

As third top, I qualified. My mother was not too impressed because she knew that if I was successful, it would mean delaying going out to work for at least another year. She used to say, "Long-term education is no good if you have nothing to eat now!"

One pupil did refuse to take the examination. He was Albert (known as Spam) Hambling. 'Spam' was small in stature but high in intelligence and usually fought it out with Brian Graham as to who was top of the class. Perhaps the most popular lad in the year, he caused quite a stir when he told the headteacher that he wouldn't be attempting the exam. 'Spam' was subject to much pressure to change his mind, but backed by his parents he held out, much to the displeasure of Mr Wilson.

Unfortunately, none of the five 13-plus pupils from Stanhope was successful. Mr Wilson was furious and I think he took it as a personal insult. He went to see the Chief Education Officer and came back to tell us it was due to our 'poor standard of English!' Our English teacher had his ear severely bent.

Looking back, it could be argued that the headmaster was himself partly the cause of the problem. By interrupting lessons, we had lost valuable English teaching time and this could have contributed to our failure.

Mr Wilson retired in the summer of 1948 but kept in contact with the school football matches the following year. After one game, he approached me and asked, "Have you got fixed up with a job yet Owen?"

"I've applied to Reyrolles, the Post Office and the local transport department." I replied.

"I hope it's Reyrolles" he remarked as he passed on to talk to other members of the team. That was the last time I saw him.